Research Output
1 - 10 of 136
Publication
A robust method for the evaluation of prison based sex offender treatment programmes
2000-01, O'Reilly, Gary, Murphy, Paul, Cotter, Anthony, Carr, Alan
This paper outlines the approach to evaluating the sex offender treatment programme
currently running in the Irish prison system. It begins with an introduction to the scope
of the problem of sexual offending as reflected by the extent of the prison population in
Ireland who have been convicted of a variety of sexual offences. It then outlines two key
points that can be gleaned from several decades of general research on evaluating the
effectiveness of psychological treatments while indicating how they have been included
in our present research. We also describe the variety of data sources that need to be
incorporated into an effective evaluation of prison based sex offender treatment
programmes. We conclude with an introduction to some preliminary findings from our
on-going research. These finding high-light the return in terms of more reliable
information when care is taken in developing a robust method for the evaluation of
prison-based sex offender treatment programmes.
Publication
Perceptions of the criminal justice system and its association with well-being following a report of child sexual abuse
2007, Connon, Graham, Crooks, Allain, Carr, Alan, et al.
Publication
Power and influence in systemic consultation
2011, Carr, Alan
The disagreement between Haley and Bateson over the usefulness of the concept of power in accounting for problems in human systems is described. Seven propositions which address the main issues raised by the Haley-Bateson debate are then set out. Finally some clinical and ethical implications of these propositions are presented.
Publication
Failure in family therapy: A catalogue of engagement mistakes
1990, Carr, Alan
Eleven key positions within the social system which evolves around a
presenting problem are set out. A catalogue of common mistakes which
arise from failing to distinguish between these elements and take
account of their significance during the engagement process is
presented, along with specific suggestions for avoiding these clinical
errors.
Publication
Profiles of resilient survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland
2009-09, Flanagan, Edel, Carr, Alan, Dooley, Barbara A., Fitzpatrick, Mark, Flanagan-Howard, RoisÃn, Shevlin, Mark, Tierney, Kevin, White, Megan, Daly, Margaret, Egan, Jonathan
In a group of 247 survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland, 45 cases (18%) did not meet the diagnostic criteria for common DSM IV axis I or II disorders. This resilient group was compared with a poorly adjusted group of 119 participants who met the criteria for 1-3 DSM IV axis I or II diagnoses, and a very poorly adjusted group of 83 participants who had 4 or more disorders. Compared with the very poorly adjusted group, the resilient group was older and of higher socio-economic status; had suffered less sexual and emotional institutional abuse; experienced less traumatization and re-enactment of institutional abuse; had fewer trauma symptoms and life problems; had a higher quality of life and global level of functioning; engaged in less avoidant coping; and more resilient survivors had a secure adult attachment style. The resilient group differed from the poorly adjusted group on a subset of these variables. The results of this study require replication in other contexts. Therapeutic interventions with survivors should focus on facilitating the use of non-avoidant coping strategies and the development of a secure adult attachment style.
Publication
Physical child abuse: A comprehensive family based approach to treatment
2000, Carr, Alan
Physical abuse within the family may be conceptualized as the outcome of a complex process in
which a child with particular characteristics which rendered him or her vulnerable to abuse, is injured
by a parent involved in an ongoing problematic behaviour pattern, subserved by particular belief
systems and constrained by historical, contextual and constitutional predisposing factors. When
families are referred by statutory child protection agencies to therapy services for treatment, initially a
contract for comprehensive assessment should be established with the family and referrer.
Assessment should involve interviews with all members of the child system and should cover relevant
risk and protective factors and a verbal reconstruction of the abusive incident. A contract for treatment
may be offered if the assessment shows that the parents accept responsibility for the abuse, are
committed to meeting their child's needs, are committed to improving their own psychological wellbeing
and where they have the ability to change. Treatment should be based on clear contracts to
meet specific targets. Treatment and case management plans involve a central focus on improving
parent-child interaction through direct work with parents and children together. This may be
supplemented with couples work, interventions in the wider system and individual work for parents
focusing on parent-craft and the management of personal difficulties such as mood and anger
regulation. Children may also receive input in therapeutic pre-school placements.
Publication
Positive psychology
2005-01, Carr, Alan
Clinical Psychology has traditionally focused on psychological deficits and disability. It has
rarely privileged clients’ resilience and resourcefulness. The critical psychology tradition in
the UK has highlighted the shortcomings of this approach (Johnstone, 2000; Newnes,
Holmes, & Dunn, 1999, 2001). The new positive psychology movement aims to develop a
knowledge base focusing on human strengths to complement deficit based approaches
(Snyder & Lopez, 2002). This message of positive psychology is an optimistic one. The
results of scientific research point to three reliable ways to find happiness (Carr, 2004).
1. Cultivate relationships which involve deep attachment and commitment.
2. Involve yourself in absorbing work and leisure activities in which you exercise your
strengths, talents and interests. 3. Cultivate an optimistic, future-oriented perspective on life in which you expect the best
and value the future more than the present.
Publication
Urban public attitudes to the treatment of psychological problems and depression in general practice
2000, McKeon, Patrick, Gavigan, P., Carr, Alan
A previous national study of public attitudes to depression indicated that only 17% spontaneously mentioned their
general practitioner as someone who could help with depression, in contrast to 79% of respondents being willing to
consult their G.P. in a similar U.K. survey. The present study undertook to examine the public perception of an
urban sample to the treatment of depression in general practice and the factors associated with expressed
unwillingness to consult. A random sample from the electoral register was drawn and 54 (89%) of 61 subjects selected
were interviewed. While 85% of respondents were satisfied with their general practice care, only 24% to 52%,
depending on the context and wording of the question, said that they would seek help from their general practitioner
for depression. Factors associated with an expressed reluctance to consult were being male, dissatisfied with
general practitioner care and believing that general practitioners were not qualified to treat depression.
Publication
The effects of actual and potential stressor control on physiological and self-reported stress responses
1985-06, Carr, Alan
Two broad groups of theories offer explanations for the stress modifying effects of stressor control. One group of theories attributes the stress modifying effects of control to the predictive information furnished by the controlling action. The second, regards the effects of stressor control as being independent of predictability. The minimax theory belongs to this second group. It predicts stress reduction in the experimental group when all factors are held constant across experimental and comparison conditions, but where only subjects in the experimental group have stressor control. Two experiments were conducted to test this prediction. Actual control over brief bursts of loud noise was available to subjects in the experimental group of the first experiment. In the second, the effects of potential (but unexercised) control were examined. In both experiments subjects in the comparison group had no control over the stressors. However, they were exposed to the same pattern of stimulation, and had the same amount of predictive information as their experimental group counterparts. Experimental and comparison groups were matched on five organismic variables, viz. age, sex, Neurorticism, Extraversion, Desirability of Control, and coping style. Physiological and self-reported stress responses were recorded during both stressor anticipation and impact periods. Less anticipatory physiological stress was observed in the experimental than in the comparison groups in both experiments. Intergroup differences on the remaining dependent variables were not reliable. The minimax theory was partially supported. Coping style was included as an organismic variable in a number of further analyses. These revealed that while behavioural control led to anticipatory physiological stress reduction, the use of cognitive nonvigilant coping strategies led to a reduction in anticipatory self-reported stress. Interactions between stressor control and coping style were also observed. These interactions suggested that stress reduction may be enhanced by using different coping strategies in different situations. The clinical implications of this congruence model were discussed.
Publication
Epidemiology of psychological disorders in Irish children
1993, Carr, Alan
Three major epidemiological studies of psychological disorders in Irish children were reviewed. These are the first systematic investigations to be conducted in Ireland and all have been completed within the last 5 years. The studies were conducted in Dublin (N = 2029), Clare (N = 1361) and Cork (N = 733). In all three studies children were screened with the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire. The prevalence rates of children with deviant scores were 17%, 11% and 15% for Dublin, Clare and Cork respectively. Externalizing behavioural problems were three times more prevalent than internalizing problems in Dublin and Clare. Data for Cork, on this variable, were unavailable. In all three studies the prevalence of disorders was higher in boys, but this pattern was particularly marked in Dublin where 21 % of boys had disorders compared to 12% of girls. In Dublin and Clare, but not in Cork, lower intelligence and reading attainment difficulties were associated with the presence of a psychological disorder. In Dublin (the only area for which data on family circumstances were available) family adversity was associated with psychological disorder. In Dublin and Cork, screening by questionnaire was followed-up with an intensive interview study of cases and controls. Estimated prevalence rates of psychological disorder based on interview data were 16% for Dublin and 10% for Cork.